Algiers man crushed by truck after fight in eastern New Orleans

A 29-year-old Algiers man died Monday after he was crushed by a truck following a fight at a truck stop in eastern New Orleans.

Lance Evans died in a local hospital about an hour after the altercation with another man. The fight began shortly before 4:30 p.m. in the 5000 block of Old Gentilly Road, authorities said.

At some point, one of the men involved in the fight tried to flee, officer Janssen Valencia said. According to preliminary information from police, that man -- whose name was not immediately available -- was attempting to drive away in a dump truck but did not notice Evans was in front of the truck.

Evans was transported to a hospital where he later died, said John Gagliano, chief investigator for the Orleans Parish Coroner's Office. An autopsy will be performed Tuesday morning to determine the cause of death, Gagliano said.

Thus far no one has been charged with a crime, Valencia said. Initial reports indicated one or both of the men may have been cut during the fight, but that has not been confirmed by police who continue to investigate the incident.